Joannie Marie DuBois, 63, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2018, in the presence of her family at Ava's House in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 63 after a long and courageous battle with cancer, never complaining about the pain she endured.  Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, November 7 at Brooklyn Evangelical Free Church.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday, November 6 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD.

Joannie Marie Nielsen was born on March 17, 1955 to parents Harlan and Gwenneth (Erickson) Nielsen. Joannie grew up in rural Beresford, commuting to country grade school on her motorcycle. She graduated from Beresford High School in 1973.  On October 6, 1973 she married Joe Lyle. Living on a farm south of Beresford, they had a daughter, and two sons. After moving into town, Joannie would take care of other children, so she could stay home with her own, as her family always came first. In 1989, their family moved to Allentown, PA, where she worked at a veterinary clinic. She moved back to Beresford in 1992, along with her children. Shortly thereafter she met her husband, Shawn DuBois, whom she has spent the past 26 years with. Upon moving back, she worked again at a veterinary clinic, followed by Starmark, and most recently Showplace Cabinetry.

Known for her love of animals, as a young child she always had a puppy in her arms, often dressing them in doll clothes and blankets, or pushing them in her doll buggy. Over the years, she raised numerous breeds of dogs. She was always available to babysit her "grandpuppies," as she passed along her affinity for animals to (most) of her children right away, and all three in the end.

For the past 20 years, Joannie and Shawn have lived in their current home north of Beresford. She most of all loved spending time with her friends and family. She enjoyed camping, gardening, and liked to catch a race, or a football game now and then too. Each of her grandchildren held a special place in her heart, and there was always a bowl of candy on the table in case one of them stopped in to see her.

Joannie is survived by her loving husband Shawn; her parents Harlan and Gwen Nielsen; her three children, Doug (Deb) Lyle of Beresford, Angie (Mike) Wiebers of Sioux Falls and Billy (Shelly) Lyle of Sioux Falls; her four grandchildren, Gage and Larissa Lyle, Derek Wiebers and Owen Lyle; and her two brothers, Bob (Sheryl) and Jack (Dianne) Nielsen of Beresford, SD. She was preceded in death by a sister, Joy Nielsen and a grandson Zachary Wiebers.